Disclaimer: I do not own Rowan Hood.
A/N: I already had this one written, so here you go. This chapter shows what's happening for the band during the time Rook is captured. Thanks to Rawr I'm A Toaster, I'm pretty sure you're the only person actually reading this. J Please read and review.
"Bread, Lionel?" Etty asked, her usually serene face nothing more than a façade set to hide her discomfort. That evening, not one of the outlaws was faring well with the new turn of events.
"No. I'm not hungry." Lionel said quietly.
"You? Not hungry?" Rowan teased, but the playful smile did not reach her eyes. Uncomfortable silence fell upon them all until Beau's agitated voice broke through, passion betraying her accent.
"Stop!" They all looked at her as if she was mad. "How can you sit around and act like nothing is wrong?"
"Beau, leave it." Etty warned.
"No! I miss him and so do you. All of you, though you're too proud to admit it."
"I don't want to talk about it." Rowan cut in sharply. Lionel said heatedly,
"Why talk about him, the traitor? I don't miss him and neither should you. We're better off without him."
"Lionel-" Ro began, rubbing her temples.
"It's true! Better we know now that he feels no loyalty."
"Lionel, Rook kept the ring. He means to come back." Etty reasoned.
"And you believe him? He's probably selling us out to the sheriff right now!" Lionel raged. Rowan gave him a stony gaze.
"You know that's not true."
"Rook would never betray us." Beau added surely. "He may be many things, but he is no traitor."
"Rowan gave us a choice and he did what he thought was right. I suppose we cannot condemn him for that." Ettarde said thoughtfully, but with a twinge of sadness.
"But he still left." Lionel said, his anger giving way to hurt. "If he cared about Rowan, about any of us- he would have stayed."
"I'm sure he had his reasons." Etty said, sighing. Ro nodded vaguely.
"Do you think he will return?" Beau asked quietly.
"I don't know." Ro breathed lightly. "But I really hope so."